Mark Rothko, Untitled (brown and gray) (detail), 1969. Acrylic on paper. Gift of the Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc. © 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Mark Rothko, Untitled (brown and gray) (detail), 1969. Acrylic on paper. Gift of the Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc. © 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Mark Rothko: The Simple Expression of the Complex Thought
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Tickets (Member / Nonmember)
In-Person $28 / $35
Livestream $16 / $20
Engage in a discussion of Mark Rothko’s artistic development toward abstraction with special attention to issues of interpretation. This lecture specifically addresses the following citation by the artist: “I am not interested in relationships of color or form or anything else.… I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions—tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.… And if you say you are moved only by their color relationships, then you miss the point.”
Claude Cernuschi, professor emeritus, Art History, and chair, Fine Arts Department, Boston College
Course Packages
Purchase a ticket package for the full four-session “Reintroducing Modernism at the MFA” course. Please note that this option is not available after the date of the first session.
Assistive listening system
Wheelchair accessible
Ticket Information
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975 ($6 processing fee applies); to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
Livestream Tickets
The livestream ticket gives access to a live feed of the event that can be watched remotely. You must be logged in to the account used to purchase the ticket in order to access the livestream on the Video Content page. Please log in at least 5 minutes before the start of the event to test your connection.
Livestream ticket holders must watch the event live; there is no recording of the event available for viewing at a later time.
Bag Checks
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags, all liquids including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs. All bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” must be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. Read our full bag check policy.